By Okolo Oteri Eme
all through the ages and up till now man still has a flawed approach to God based on needs. So, when the needs disappear or are conquered, the need for a relationship with God appears futile.
It is interesting to read Nigerians totally ignore history and refer to Christianity as the white man’s religion. Well, the fact is that there is nothing white about Christianity in the sense that we attempt to portray it. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism and although brought to Africa by “the West”, it did not originate from there. That should be basic fact!
The adoption of its ethos at whatever level in Africa is said to be a sign of inferiority complex and lack of loyalty to culture and tradition. Like the atheists, proponents attempt to bludgeon or guilt trip just about anyone with this opinion. They do not give the right of choice as to what to believe or practice. We all must do as they say. Is that not retrogressive?
Britain like most parts of the world has a traceable spiritual/religious history from what is known in many circles as paganism. The Anglo-Saxon didn’t even speak English in the beginning and worshipped their ancestors before they progressed to the worship of nature and its elements and specific life milestones and circumstance. All of this is tied to the need to succeed against the odds of life and against the vagaries of nature. A successful harvest, fertility, prosperity, health, victory at war, fear of the after-life, occupational proficiency, etc.
Like all other humans they had their modes and articles of worship e.g idols, talisman, festivals, sacrifices etc. Some of the gods they worshipped include Balder God of Immortality, Eostre Goddess of Birth, Frigg Goddess of Love, Hel Goddess of Death, Loki God of Cunning, Saxnot God of the Family, Thunor God of Thunder, Tiw God of War, Wade God of the Sea, Wayland God of Metalworking Woden Chief God etc. Can you see the similarity between their gods and the African gods? Roman? Persian?
“Modern-day church from America to Nigeria. It is based on a false gospel and most are in worship of someone other that the Christian God. Africans believed in the true supreme God and worshiped through our own traditional approach.
About 1400 years ago, the Pope sent a monk called Augustine to England. Augustine landed in the south and converted the first King Ethelbert of Kent, and then the people living there. The Pope made Augustine a Bishop and Ethelbert allowed him to build a church in Canterbury, the rest as they say is history.
What is known as British culture today is a mix of its pagan roots and more recent Christian influences. As we move towards the increase in knowledge, science and technology and the conquering of nature, improved healthcare, infrastructure and quality of life we see a tendency towards atheism and the belief in self.
This is because all through the ages and up till now man still has a flawed approach to God based on needs. So, when the needs disappear or are conquered, the need for a relationship with God appears futile. The Christianity that originated in Africa is a mix of African traditional values with foreign cultures that do not have a firm belief in a supreme God until they were faced with challenges of healthcare and economy. Immediately they felt relieved from their bondage of dark ages with better healthcare, improved technology etc., they went back to their original identity which is idolatry and atheism.
Meanwhile scriptures (if you are a Christian) tells us that is not the basis of faith. That is my main grouse with the modern-day church from America to Nigeria. It is based on a false gospel and most are in worship of someone other that the Christian God. Africans believed in the true supreme God and worshiped through our own traditional approach. Now all that has been abused with the modern mix of Christianity with foreign culture. Faith is measured by the same things that informed pagan worship, health, prosperity especially in the angel alerts hoax by one Nigerian pastor. What a whopping shame!
Back to the subject at hand. Be it for the right or wrong reasons, correct or incorrect approach, life and culture can never be static. Things evolve and it should remain a personal choice as to the pace and what. Do not attempt to force your beliefs on anyone and should you make commentary on any of these issues kindly do it accurately. It is insulting to assume your audience is ignorant of historical facts or maybe you are.
